Our recent highly successful African Music Festival involved multiple classes from 11 schools in three Local Authority areas in Scotland- East Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire and Midlothian.

The project involved SEN/ASN, Primary and Secondary children, who learned African Drumming and Dancing from a new online resource, and then rehearsed and performed with a 7-piece leading Drum and Dance Ensemble from Ghana, a singer and N’goni (African Harp) player from Burkina Faso, and leading jazz and folk musicians from the UK.

Class teachers received training to consolidate learning using the web-based resources, on-site visits took trainers into classrooms, and then children rehearsed and presented a large-scale performance in major Arts venue in each local authority area, as well as smaller-scale performances in their own schools- with fantastic results.

Training Options:

ABC offers a range of training and support options.
Our Music Leader programme is proving extremely successful and cost-effective for Local Authorities, allowing you to trim and resource a local training and support team, recruited from enthusiastic class teachers or local arts specialists, who are trained and equipped with online CPD resources by ABC.

ABC Creative Music resources are unique in overcoming anxiety and building confidence in non-specialist staff that use them. An ABC program delivered by classroom teachers sits very comfortably alongside music specialist provision, and benefits from specialist input and support. Our Music Leader programme also offers music specialists a clear role in the future, by embedding them at the centre of a forward looking cross-curricular, fully embedded music program.

Background:

ABC Creative Music Online provides a unique approach to delivering classroom music, in a way that takes music into a new cross-curricular world. ABC doesn’t just look different. Backed by 15 years of research and testing, this program overcomes many barriers to increasing music capacity. ABC empowers non-specialist teachers to overcome their fears and resistance to teaching music. The program works because the training, resources, use of notation, and percussion all powerfully say to non-specialists – this program is for you and you CAN do it. By doing so it gives local authorities the flexibility to focus budgets on specialist provision.

Apply for a one-month full access ABC Online log-in here, so you and your Local Authority/Music Hub colleagues can fully assess the resource- even try it out in the classroom!

Please contact Phil Bancroft at phil@abccreativemusic.com
or on 01875 898340 for a meeting, local authority reference, or presentation to your team.

Local Authority & YMI Feedback

The methodology and the materials develop pupils’ self-confidence and give them the skills with which to express themselves in a musical and imaginative way. Finally and most importantly the feedback from pupils has been fantastic - pupils really love the ABC Creative Music experience!John Wilson, Quality Assurance Officer, East Ayrshire Council

ABC Creative Music Online is benefitting teachers and children in Edinburgh
because it is so easy for teachers to use and it is absolutely up to date with the new Curriculum for Excellence.David Leslie, Quality Improvement Officer: Expressive Arts, Edinburh City Council

Creating access to music making, especially for those young people that would not normally have the chance, is the backbone of the Youth Music Initiative. ABC's new online resource will provide classroom teachers with the toolkit that they need to teach music confidently and enjoy it too!David McDonald, Creative Scotland's Youth Arts Manager

The lessons are colourful and interactive and provide active learning for children at an appropriate level for teacher and children. The online assessment and planning features are motivating teachers to get involved even if music isn't in their comfort zone.David Leslie, Quality Improvement Officer: Expressive Arts, Edinburh City Councill

The approach is very creativity centred and is very much aligned with our priorities for expressive arts.David Leslie, Quality Improvement Officer: Expressive Arts, Edinburh City Council

ABC Creative Music was commissioned by East Ayrshire to devise a Creative Music Resource for the Primary 4 stage as part of our implementation plan for YMI.
The initial inset training day was excellent. Here’s what some teachers said: “a great experience and great fun!”, “I can’t wait to try this with my class”,
and “professionally delivered in a thoroughly understandable way”.John Wilson, Quality Assurance Officer, East Ayrshire Council

Key to the success of the partnership with ABC Caber Enterprises has been the ongoing support through the school support visit programme. These visits, coupled with a series of follow-up training days, have really empowered and enthused staff and have contributed immensely to the long-term sustainability of the programme."John Wilson , Quality Assurance Officer East Ayrshire Council

ABC Online User Feedback

Warm Up: Boing Song That was so fun my boys and girls want to do it all day.ABC Online User 17 May 2012

(Movement Game- How Many?)...Pupils could easily move to both animal sounds and chime bar. Pupils enjoyed the game and were keen to be instrument players or animals.ABC Online User 4 May 2012

Tell the Difference - Higher, Lower, the Same ...The Primary 4s worked really well on this task, spotting the difference between notes and pitch in the music. They had lots of fun dancing!ABC Online User 9 May 2012

The ABC scheme breaks down the learning into achievable chunks, encourages participation and group work and most of the time, the children are having so much fun with the games and activities, they don't actually realise they are learning!Kirstie Love, Queensferry Primary, Edinburgh

The lessons are colourful and interactive and provide active learning for children at an appropriate level for teacher and children. The online assessment and planning features are motivating teachers to get involved even if music isn't in their comfort zone.David Leslie, Quality Improvement Officer: Expressive Arts, Edinburh City Councill

The ABC website transformed music in our school. The activities are fun and the children get a real sense of achievement from completing them. Teachers are able to break down the skills in manageable proportions in an easy, clear way. I love using the website as everything is at your fingertips - from clear instructions to the music needed for each activity.
Jane Andrew, Class Teacher, East Ayrshire

Hide & Seek - Cat & Mouse P3: Super!ABC Online User 9 May 2012

ABC Creative Music Online is benefitting teachers and children in Edinburgh
because it is so easy for teachers to use and it is absolutely up to date with the new Curriculum for Excellence.David Leslie, Quality Improvement Officer: Expressive Arts, Edinburh City Council

Boing Song - Faster & Slower...Super fun!ABC Online User 16 May 2012

Teachers Toolkit 1: My class says that was fun. Thank you for making it.ABC Online User 12 May 2012

Very good website!ABC Online User 12 May 2012

(Sing/Play After Me)...All pupils used instruments when required to do so and only when YOU was called. Children responded well to the count in and recognised the number of counts.ABC Online User 4 May 2012

Biddley Bop Bee #2 (P2)
I liked that you could keep changing it to make it tricky. Lili P2
I liked that we had to play our instruments then put them down quickly then be ready again. Charlie P2
(I used the jump icon to represent playing their instruments instead. Kirsty Hall (teacher))
(Ed - Great Idea Kirsty!)ABC Online User 23 April 2012

Explore Sounds - Materials Super!ABC Online User 1 May 2012

Good listening activity.ABC Online User 25 April 2012

Sing/Play After Me...Me and my class think these is super. Thank you from me.ABC Online User 17 May 2012

ABC SEN Pack Feedback

It's been really really welcomed by the staff. I think first of all its a very simple resource to use.
Everything is clearly laid out, very colourful...Rhoda MacDougall, Headteacher, Lochies School, Clackmannanshire

This year we incorporated elements of the ABC SEN 1 resource pack into the three junior classes of the school with successful results. The students have enthusiastically embraced: listening and responding; performing to musical cues; responding to symbols and visual cues; body awareness and movement; and the creativity of choosing when using the ABC SEN 1 resource materials.
Pete Klein, Creative Music Teacher, Belvoir Special School, Wodonga, Australia

Jack amazed us with his responses, and amazed himself.
Park Special School, East Ayrshire

It's just so simple...the children can take part and make
their own music on their own level.. but you can also see the progression as the
children get a bit older.Rhoda MacDougall, Headteacher, Lochies School, Clackmannanshire

This year we used the ABC SEN 1 pack with great success. The students have enthusiastically embraced the ABC SEN 1 resource materials.Peter Klein, Creative Music Teacher, Belvoir Special School, Wodonga, Australia

Great rhythm practice... Children respond well to ABC packs
and it is straightforward to followPark Special School, East Ayrshire

The overall effect of the programme within the school is just that the children absolutely and utterly enjoy every moment.Rhoda MacDougall, Headteacher, Lochies School, Clackmannanshire

For everyone in the school who are not musically trained and very intimidated
by a music program, it's been a really simple resource just to let them use and has
a great effect with the children.
Rhoda MacDougall, Headteacher, Lochies School, Clackmannanshire

A great resource: easy to use and the kids love it... fantastic!Park Special School, East Ayrshire